Why we ordain (even for women)

We are going to make history this Sunday at Augusta Heights Church in Greenville, SC. For the first time in the 63-year history of the church, we will celebrate the ordination of a woman, Debbie Roper, to the gospel ministry.

Debbie’s official title at Augusta Heights is Minister to Children and Families, but her real job is Minister to Anything and Everything that Anyone Needs. With such a clear calling, it is a “no-brainer” at the church to ordain her to the tasks that she is already doing. There was never a question issued–at least not publicly–about whether or not this was the right thing to do. Never a question about how could we ordain a woman.

In Baptist life in the south, ordination is strictly a local church matter. For our particular local church, ordination is not about prestige or power or authority. It’s not about creating a hierarchy within the church. It is not about deciding who God likes better or considers more important. It is not about pre-screening people to find out if they are educated enough, theologically pure (whatever that means), or worthy to hold authority. And most of all, it is not about playing church politics with people’s lives.

For us, the purpose of ordination is as simple as Acts 6:1-7: It is the setting aside of a person for a special purpose or ministry to which they and the church feel that they are called. We believe that it is still important to acknowledge such a calling and to have a special time of recognition, prayer and blessing for that calling. And this Sunday, we honor the calling of Debra Perkins Roper as she continues to respond to the call of ministry that she answered many years ago.

Judging from the raised eyebrows that I receive (as well as one irate phone call from someone I don’t even know) when I tell people who we are ordaining, this remains a hot-button issue. Why on earth would Augusta Heights, or any other church, ordain women when the Bible “forbids” it?

I am skeptical that anyone can prove that God “forbids” the ordination of women in scripture. They could surely prove that men were predominantly selected to the ministry in first century middle eastern culture. It’s pretty clear that Paul had some issues in dealing with women in the church. And it’s very clear that the writers of the New Testament were not exactly ready to completely upset every aspect of the present social order, including the ones that identified women as subservient to men.

Yet, we seem to conveniently neglect the times that Paul puts women on equal footing with men (Galatians 3:28); or names them as equals in the work of the gospel (Philippians 4:2-3); or identifies a woman as a deacon (Romans 16). And we surely forget that, on the Day of Resurrection, the women were the only ones around to witness the actual event, while the guys were hiding.

I understand that some churches and Christians interpret the scriptures in different ways, and respect the decision of others to not ordain women. But I don’t agree with that interpretation, and neither does Augusta Heights.

Beyond that, it is naive to say that this is a “non-essential issue” to churches or Gospel ministry. How can we call it non-essential when half of the church is eliminated from God’s calling? How can we pretend that it’s unimportant to tell God who he can or cannot call to ministry?

I’ve heard it too many times from too many people: God “won’t” call a woman to the ministry. God “doesn’t” call women to ministry because Gog did not “make” women for ministry. And the crème de la crème, God “can’t” call a woman to the ministry.

That’s a pretty extreme limitation to put on God. The only limits on God are those that are self-imposed, and I do not find any compelling argument that God eternally denies the call to ministry to all women. I would argue that we should use extreme caution in telling someone that we call Almighty, Creator, Redeemer, and Deliverer what won’t/isn’t/can’t be done.

Our belief is that God, revealed in Jesus Christ and through the power of the Holy Spirit, can call anyone at any time to a special designation of a life in ministry of the Gospel. Let there be no doubt that we are ALL ordained, all called to ministry in various capacities. But it is still our privilege as church to acknowledge when such a calling grows into a specific, unique life event.

This is really what we are doing on Sunday, by recognizing the unique calling on the life of one special lady. We are more than happy to announce that YES, we believe women can be called and ordained; and are thrilled to be a part of such an ordination. Whether or not you agree with us, we invite you to rejoice with us and pray for Debbie Roper as she celebrates her calling.

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It is a joy to be informed that the congregation of Augusta Heights Baptist has recognized and affirmed the call of a woman. As you note, all of us are called to ministry.
Those from among us who perform leading ministry functions on behalf of the people are worthy of our support and identification. However, I do not think of the ordained as “set aside” or “set apart” for ministry. Rather, I think of them as “set within” the love and commitment of the church; neither “set over” nor “set under” the people. No offense intended. It’s merely what I think.
Thanks be to God and your church for the ministry and ordination of women.

Tom LeGrand

It can be viewed as an issue of semantics–aside or apart, as opposed to within–but we also know that language matters. “Set within” might indeed be a better term, especially for Debbie Roper. She has spent most of her life at Augusta Heights, and clearly has been “set within” the congregation for God’s purposes for many years. Our hope is that God will keep her in this place of service for years to come.

revrobertwaters

It’s a shame that the clear Word of God in I Timothy 2:12 isn’t good enough for you. This woman may be eloquent and gifted, but unless Scripture is wrong she isn’t called to the pastoral ministry. One thing is clear: no matter how faithfully she preaches, by her very presence in the pulpit she will proclaim far louder than her words that her hearers needn’t pay attention to a word she says.

http://biblicalpersonhood.wordpress.com/ Retha Faurie

Revrobertwaters, do you follow the clear word of God in Luke 6:30?: “30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.”

If so, give me all your money. If not, your actions proclaim far louder than your words that I as hearer needn’t pay attention to a word you say.
(I do not really believe what I wrote above. I followed your argument style, not mine.)

Tom LeGrand

It’s a shame that Galatians 3:28 isn’t good enough for you. Or that Deborah isn’t good enough. Or that Lydia and Phoebe or Priscilla weren’t good enough. There will be few occasions where she will be preaching, as that is not her primary calling to ministry. If people refuse to listen to her when she does bring a message, it is to their own detriment that they believe the Holy Spirit can only fully work through half of humanity.

I would encourage those who feel as you do to go to your church–and wish them well as they go on their way. If they are vehemently opposed to the ordination of women, then AHBC is probably not the place for them (for the record, there was absolutely no opposition to this within the church). You are called to pastor your congregation and do so as you see fit. But that’s not how we see it, and neither life nor scripture is so cut and dried. We choose not to proof-text singular scriptures to create absolutes.